Sci-Ed Innovators Fellows Experience

The overall goal of the program is to engage the participating teachers in furthering the development of Jhumki’s Framework of Democratic Science Teaching. This Framework revolves around four important principles. For urban youth to engage in science and find it meaningful, the learning experience must include:

  • Student choice of content and learning activities
  • Student voice about their opinions about what they are learning
  • Student creation of their own learning based on their existing knowledge and a personalized learning experience
  • Students engaging in critical science agency, becoming subject matter experts who leverage their knowledge for change

The Fellows will participate in a year-long experience that will include live meetings and online collaboration. Their activities will include discussions about the Framework, deepening their understanding of it and the richness of its content, as well as lessons and case examples about how they are applying the Framework in their classrooms.

The Fellows will demonstrate their application of the Framework to their teaching practice during two events: The Annual Sci-Ed Innovators Day at NYU in February and the Sci-Ed Innovators Fellows Culmination Event in June.

Objectives of the Fellowship

Fellows will:

  • Understand and apply Jhumki Basu’s Framework for the democratic science teaching to their practice of teaching science
  • Build a community of committed science teachers who will extend Jhumki’s Framework with new ideas and practices
  • Develop strategies to overcome barriers that marginalize science equity
  • Develop and share demonstration lessons that reinforce the principles of the democratic science teaching.
  • Share resources for making science available and engaging for urban youth

Participant Products as a Result of the Fellowship Experience

  • Personal and group extensions and examples of the Jhumki Basu Framework for Democratic Science Teaching
  • Personal vision and practice of teaching informed by the Fellowship experiences
  • Video or written journal of reflections throughout the year
  • Re-designed lessons, best practices shared, student projects and products that reflect the principles of the Framework

Results Expected (Based on Jhumki’s Knowles application outcomes)

  • Teachers increase confidence in their ability to teach science
  • Teachers increase their enjoyment of teaching science
  • Teachers commit to staying in science education
  • Students are more engaged and enjoy science
  • Students have increased science agency and have initiated original work
  • Students are committed to continue to study science
  • Students achieve higher scores on grades and exams